Moonstone
Trade name for three materials: microcline, orthoclase, albite
Uncommon · KAlSi₃O₈
A feldspar exhibiting adularescence, a floating blue or white sheen caused by light scattering between thin alternating layers of orthoclase and albite. Named for its moonlike glow.
Identity
- Formula
- KAlSi₃O₈
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Mineral group
- Albite, Labradorite, Orthoclase, Sunstone
- Also known as
- Adularia, Hecatolite
- Used in alchemy
- Moonstone Powder
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Habits
- Tabular, Massive
- Fracture
- Uneven
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 2.56 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous, Pearly
- Colors
- colorless, white, gray, blue, pink
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent
Geology
- Origins
- Igneous
- Host rocks
- Granite
- Associated minerals
- Quartz, Albite, Mica, biotite
- Found in
- Pegmatite deposit
- Geography
- Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar
Classification
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Water, Time
- Effects
- Illusion, Scrying
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- Moonstone. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Microcline. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Moonstone. Gemdat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Moonstone. Gemological Institute of America, Gem Encyclopedia.
- Moonstone Description. Gemological Institute of America, Gem Encyclopedia.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Orthoclase. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Microcline. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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